Click here to go to Modular Podium Microphones
Click here to go to Wireless Microphones
Click here to go to Wired Microphones
Click here to go to Assistive Listening
Click here to go to Wireless Monitoring Systems
Kent Margraves is National Applications Manager, Installed Sound at Sennheiser Electronic Corporation, where he provides audio training and product application/system design support to the worship community. Kent also has extensive, full-time experience as a professional worship audio director.
Michael Hill is a Sennheiser sales representative and has been mixing audio for touring and church installations for over 25 years. He has led worship since the age of 17 and is currently serving as Worship Pastor at Trinity Fellowship Church in Rockwall, TX. His seminars focus on eliminating the gap between "stage performers" and techs to make a more productive "praise team."
Sennheiser

H.O.W. Tips & Tricks - A Musician's Perspective on the Benefits of Stereo Wireless Monitor Mixes

Audio Sound Systems, Houses of Worship, voice, microphone
Audio Sound Systems, Houses of Worship, voice, microphone Tips & Tricks
A Musician's Perspective on the Benefits of Stereo Wireless Monitor Mixes
By: Andrew Catron, associate of worship ministries at Lee Park Baptist Church - Monroe, NC

The difference between mono and stereo in the use of a wireless monitoring system is very profound—if you think about it, we experience life in stereo. We even describe sound reproduced by systems with multiple channels of stereo as “rich” because it comes even closer to how we naturally experience sound. In the case of a wireless monitor system, utilizing stereo gives a sense of space. In fact, playing really gets fun and expressive when I forget that I’m wearing a wireless monitor and can hear everything I want and need to hear!

Aside from achieving a more natural monitor sound, using stereo for wireless monitor mixes has another very practical aspect to it: I have more "room" to build a mix. When running a wireless monitor system in dual mono, I hear the mix dead center since both ear buds are reproducing the same signal. That is a problem when I need to hear kick, snare, overhead drum mics, bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitars, click, percussion, background vocals, the worship leader, a choir, loops, brass instruments, and any other elements that might be on stage during a worship service.

When using dual mono, I have to choose 3-5 things to monitor and everything else takes a back seat. When I use wireless monitors in stereo, I have a much larger sound field to use. I’ll pan background vocals slightly left, the worship leader slightly right, acoustic around 30% right, piano around 30% left, kick and bass dead center, overhead drum mics around 50% right, percussion 50% left, electric guitars 70% left and right and so on. With a stereo mix, things don’t compete as much and I can monitor many more instruments with much less volume!

From an ear health standpoint, I feel a lot better about a stereo mix. As I mentioned earlier, a dual mono mix places everything dead center. So, my mix consists of layering a few instruments on top of each other. The only way to get more room is to increase the gain which takes my mix louder, whereas a stereo mix allows me to take my mix wider. In fact, I am able to use 25-35% less volume with a stereo mix!

I use wireless monitors approximately 12 hours every week to monitor the ministry teams I lead, as well as participate in leading the church in worship. With that said, I can't afford to only hear a handful of instruments when there is a stage full of artists singing and playing their hearts out and I won’t afford to damage my hearing, diminishing the gift that God has placed in me and the joy I get using them!
Audio Sound Systems, Houses of Worship, voice, microphone
Artist-Production Communication
Kent Margraves, Sennheiser
Audio Sound Systems, Houses of Worship, voice, microphone
Setting up a Worship Band Monitor Mix
Michael Hill, Sennheiser
Audio Sound Systems, Houses of Worship, voice, microphone
Getting the Best Sound in a Worship Environment
Wes Hartley, Lake Pointe Church
Audio Sound Systems, Houses of Worship, voice, microphone
10 Tips for Improving the Worship Mix Prior to Sunday
Kent Margraves, Sennheiser
Audio Sound Systems, Houses of Worship, voice, microphone
Technical Shortcuts for Supreme Audio Performance
Technical Shortcuts for Supreme Audio Performance
Audio Sound Systems, Houses of Worship, voice, microphone
Lose the Feedback
Kent Margraves, Sennheiser
Audio Sound Systems, Houses of Worship, voice, microphone
Focus Mode for In-Ear Monitors
Kent Margraves, Sennheiser
Audio Sound Systems, Houses of Worship, voice, microphone
Setting up a Praise Team Vocal Floor Monitor Mix
Michael Hill, Sennheiser
Audio Sound Systems, Houses of Worship, voice, microphone
Get Out of the Booth!
Kent Margraves, Sennheiser
Audio Sound Systems, Houses of Worship, voice, microphone
Choir Miking in Worship - Standard Approach
Kent Margraves, Sennheiser
Audio Sound Systems, Houses of Worship, voice, microphone
Bridging the Communication Gap
Michael Hill, Sennheiser
Audio Sound Systems, Houses of Worship, voice, microphone
Tips for Dynamic Drumming
Jeremy Wolfe, The Jason Lovins Band
Audio Sound Systems, Houses of Worship, voice, microphone
Seven tips on setting up your portable church
Ryan Werner, SonRise Community Church
Audio Sound Systems, Houses of Worship, voice, microphone
Transitioning from Wedges to "Ears"
Kent Margraves, Sennheiser
Audio Sound Systems, Houses of Worship, voice, microphone
Introduction to Personal Wireless Monitor Mixing
Kent Margraves, Sennheiser
Audio Sound Systems, Houses of Worship, voice, microphone
Great Sound in Both Ears: How to Achieve the Perfect Mix for Wireless Monitors
Kent Margraves, Sennheiser
Print Top

More Information